Experience…

I’m happy to be in the education business, I think there’s so much going on! I attribute this feeling in part, to those I follow on twitter, yall make it easy. And, while many educators are on summer vacation, there is still no shortage of education chat and discussions going on! Which is great for me since, my toddler school year runs year round(at least for now anyway). It’s like having a 365/24/7 tech support.

This, being my first year in a classroom to call my own is turning out to be pretty cool, though it is not without its moments where I feel lost, but during that those time I step back and take time to readjust my focus. When I’m not rummaging through twitter to find info, I find myself digging into my bag of life experiences to help me in the classroom. So let me give you a rundown.

Its been, just over a month, in the classroom. I myself am not the most structured person. In retail management, I learned quickly that, when dealing with staff and groups in general, nothing will give you faster results than structure, aka “Classroom Management”. It has help curb and alleviate unwanted behaviors, help some of the students open up, and has made it easier to get to know the kids on their own terms.

Another way we (its two teacher in each class) started was with the class set up. Since everything was brand new we initially had tons of toys out, but ended putting lots of it away(before the kids came), since it would have just overwhelmed them and would have been counter productive. The drop off was the next, and possibly the biggest challenge we tackled. Time was and is still spent talking with every parent, every morning asking them questions and vice versa. We Listened to their concerns and addressed them ASAP. Personally, nothing for me is more upsetting, than when I as a parent have a concern about my child and am being made felt that, one, I am just not that important, or, two, that for some reason am totally unaware of who my child is. That is when I have an issue. So none of my kids parent are to ever have those feelings. The drop and the pick up was a very emotional time for both the parents and the kids, sometimes the parent have bigger issues than the children. Though there may be an occasional fallout, things are improving daily . Since both would go through separation anxieties. No parent, in the class is to sneak out, I tell them to always,” say good by, see you later”, and tell the child who’s picking up them up. I’d rather a child cry for five minutes when the parent leaves than to go crazy when they find out the PARENT(s) are GONE. That is a horrible feeling to go through, I it takes a child longer to settle in and open up.

I’m currently in the process of putting together our first classroom newsletter, which I’ll share on here when its done. I’m always searching for any and all types of information I can share with parents. I currently have a binder full of articles that I plan on sharing with my parents on a weekly basis. This binder is being filled with any and everything that I feel may benefit the parents, and in turn benefit our children. The articles range from the importance of parents reading to understanding behavior. Feel free, and leave me a comment or shout me an email with links to resources, I can share with my parents. Also looking for fun ways to take my science area up a notch, just remember my kids are two year old’s .

So while, I may just be getting into education in my mid 30′s, I am not late, but rather right on time.

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